Broward Cultural Division and the South Florida Regional Planning Council will offer an informational clinic and workshop to assist applicants for the Artist Micro-Credit Program on Saturday, June 25, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.This workshop is for prospective Broward-based artists to become familiar with the program's policies and guidelines.

The Artist Micro Credit Program is a community-based, revolving loan program created to respond to a broad range of artists and creative business owners' needs, i.e. purchasing equipment, completing a project, or taking advantage of an opportunity. Loan applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. Designed to assist Broward-based practicing, professionals, and emerging artists (of all disciplines) to advance their work and careers, these loans may help with projects that are not capable of being funded from other conventional sources. On a funds-available basis, the program can provide up to a maximum of $5,000.

The Business Plan Clinic guides participants through preparation of a simple business plan, an essential tool for any artist. In addition, participants will learn how to effectively work with lenders to obtain financial support through the Artist Micro-Credit Program. The workshop will be facilitated by Rafael Cruz with the Small Business Development Center and Cheryl Cook with the South Florida Regional Planning Council. Participants will also have the opportunity to network with past alumni of the Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute and other Micro-Credit Program recipients.

Attendance at the workshop is highly recommended for Broward-based artists and alumni of the Artists as an Entrepreneur Institute. There is no fee for this workshop. Interested persons may CLICK HERE to register online. For additional information, contact James Shermer, grants administrator, Broward Cultural Division at 954-357-7502.

Four Broward County Artists Awarded Visual and Media Artist Fellowship

the calm without the storm by Madeline Denaro

Broward County Commission's Cultural Division announces the Broward County winners of the South Florida Cultural Consortium Visual and Media Artist Fellowship Program.Madeline Denaro, Victoria Gitman, Christina Petterson and Jillian Mayerwere recently named to receive this esteemed, five-county artist fellowship award.This year's selection is from a group of more than 300 applicants. The Broward Cultural Council will recognize the artists on September 1, 2011 at noon.

An exhibition featuring the works of the ten recipients in the five-county area, will be presented at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, 1650 Harrison Street, Hollywood, FL from September 9 through October 16, 2011.

The South Florida Cultural Consortium, an alliance of the local arts agencies of Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, assists visual and media artists through cash awards solely on the basis of creative excellence to foster artistic development and encourage career advancement. Formed in 1985, the Consortium operates under an inter-local government agreement to coordinate projects and share resources for the growth of South Florida cultural activities, organizations and artists. It provides regional cultural planning, new project development, statewide cultural marketing, information sharing, regional arts education training and support for ethnic and rural audience development.

2012 Artist Fellowship Opportunity

The 2012 South Florida Cultural Consortium Visual and Media Artist FellowshipApplication Deadline will be Monday, October 3, 2011, and artists will be required to apply on the Café (Call for Entry) system. There will be an application workshop, "Demystifying the Process," at ArtServe, 1350 East Sunrise Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7. Click HEREto register for the workshop.

For additional information on the South Florida Cultural Consortium or these fellowship awards visit CLICK HERE.

Growth Accelerates in Small Businesses that Create and Distribute the Arts

Today, Broward County is home to more than 6,000 (6.7 % increase over 2010) arts-related businesses-that employ more than 23,000 (5.5 % increase over 2010) people-as documented by Dun and Bradstreet, the most comprehensive and trusted source for business information in the U.S. Americans for the Arts released the 2010 Creative Industries Report which offers a research-based approach to understanding the scope and economic importance of the arts.

In the last five years, during this great recession, the number of arts-related businesses has grown by 45 percent, and the number of employees has increased by 24 percent. These numbers are even more compelling in light of the loss of many jobs and local businesses. From these statistics, it is clear that the creative industry is a growing segment of the local economy and supports a global trend that will continue as this knowledge-based economy expands.

Simultaneously, there is new evidence that the priorities of CEOs' of major national corporations are changing in important ways. According to a new survey of 1,500 chief executives conducted by IBM's Institute for Business Value, CEOs identify "creativity" as the most important leadership competency for the successful enterprise of the future. "Until now creativity has generally been viewed as fuel for the engines of research or product development, not the essential leadership asset that must permeate an enterprise," reports Frank Kern, in What Chief Executives Really Want, May 2010, BusinessWeek.com online magazine. "Strong cultural amenities are vital for attractiveness as a business location and the creative industries are a key economic driver for this community," reports The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.

The creative industries are comprised of businesses that create or distribute the arts, including: museums and collections; performing arts; visual arts/photography; film, radio and TV; design and publishing; arts schools and services. These arts-centric businesses play an important role in building and sustaining economic vibrancy: they employ people, purchase goods and services locally, generate government revenue and are a cornerstone of tourism. They also nourish the human spirit.

Nationally, there are more than 750,000 businesses in the United States involved in the creation or distribution of the arts that employ more than 2.99 million people.

Classical South Florida, the largest listener-supported broadcaster of classical music in South Florida, announced today that it has completed its purchase of WXEL-FM. The transfer of the WXEL-FM license to Classical South Florida, which was recently approved by the Federal Communications Commission, strengthens the availability and reach of public radio throughout the region.

"This is an exciting day for public radio listeners across South Florida," said Doug Evans, CSF president and general manager. "We're excited about the opportunity to serve the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast with high-quality public radio programming, and to strengthen the reach and quality of public radio throughout South Florida. We're grateful for the welcome we've received from so many people already and we look forward to being a positive part of this dynamic community."

WXEL-FM, which broadcasts at 90.7 on the FM spectrum, currently operates mixed service of classical music, news, public affairs, and other programs. CSF is changing the station's call letters to WPBI, and will concentrate the program schedule on classical music, while continuing to provide news and information programming.

The artwork, Stair #1, a public art project designed by Laurinda Spear, the Principle of the Arquitectonica International Corporation, stands like a checkered race car flag at one of the busiest intersections in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Completed in 1988 as part of the required architecture for the Bus Terminal, this stairway was designed to serve as a monumental gateway and transportation node. The stairway cantilevers from a black and white Carrara marble parallelogram-shaped wall. A blue ceramic tile stair with red openings wraps around the parallelogram under a yellow elliptical roof, visually interacting with the motion and sound of the traffic surrounding it. This Broward County structure has become an icon in Fort Lauderdale, and its image has been reproduced on Rand McNally maps and city guides.

The artwork, which had gradually deteriorated over the past ten years and was restored last month through . Broward Cultural Division's Conservation Manager Tin Ly.

Arquitectonica, the world-renowned art and design firm, is known for sophisticated surface patterning and facade articulation. Its structures are bold in color and graphic in form and the firm has become famous for its signature style, a dramatic, expressive 'high tech' modernism.

"Rock of Ages" is the film adaptation of the award-winning Broadway musical. Directed by Adam Shankman and starring Tom Cruise, the musical romance features rock-themed songs of the 80s including tunes by Styx, Journey and Bon Jovi, and is being filmed in various locations throughout Broward County.

Warner Brothers/New Line Cinemas constructed the landmark "Hollywood" sign at Monarch Hill landfill for the scene featuring Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta that was filmed May 25 - 27. Waste Management has generously donated the location fee from the filming of a scene of the feature film at Monarch Hill landfill to fund four college scholarships for students at neighboring Monarch High School in Coconut Creek.

The graduating seniors who received the scholarships are Austin Williams (FAU), Gabriela Teixeira (Nova Southeastern); Missa Abuzamel (University of Florida) and Lea Gavaris (Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania).

"We were pleased to host the film production team at Monarch Hill and also provide college scholarships to four deserving seniors at Monarch High School as part of our ongoing commitment to our local schools," said Dawn McCormick, Community Affairs Manager for Waste Management.

Newly named Monarch Hill Renewable Energy Park includes Monarch Hill landfill, its landfill gas-to-energy plant and a waste-to-energy facility. Together the renewable energy facilities produce 80 megawatts of electricity from waste or enough to power approximately 50,000 homes per day in Broward County.

Cultural Division E-News is distributed by the Broward Cultural Division. If you have questions, contact Jody Leshinsky 954-357-7463.

Purchase of this specialty license plate will support Broward County arts, please visit your local auto tag agency.